Liquid vessel and support



Feb. 25, 1964 w. E. SOEHRMAN 3,122,257

LIQUID VESSEL AND SUPPORT Filed Feb. 23, 1961 Fi g1 .l G .J 21

INVENTOR. WALTER E. SoEHRMAN MQW United States Patent 3,122,257 LEQUED VESSEL AND fiUllflRT Walter E. Soehrman, Lombard, lll, assignor to American Concepts of Progress, ind, larendon Hills, 132-, a corporation of illinois Filed Feb. 23, 1%1, Saar. Ne. 91,931 3 Claims. (ill. 2151tltl) This invention, in general, relates to a hollow liquid vessel and support means therefor, wherein said vessel is pivotally mounted on said support means. In a more particular aspect of the invention there is provided a hollow drinking vessel such as a cup or glass, containing in its structure a part adapted to cooperate with a pivot support wherein said vessel is freely pivotally supported whereby it remains in substantially horizontal or level position.

One or" the objects of this invention is to provide improvements in drinking vessels such as cups, glasses and the like by providing a unit which reduces the possibilities of accidental tipping of the drinking vessel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hollow vessel pivotally supported on a base so that the vessel remains substantially level even though the base may be in a tilted position with respect to the horizontal.

Another object of the invention is to provide drinking vessels adapted to be supported on a pivotable support.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novelty drinking vessel which reduces the possibility of accidental spilling of the liquid contents of the vessel.

Still another object is to provide a novelty drinlc ng vessel hich may be used in the drinking of a beverage and for entertainment in and about the home, or recreation room, or like place.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims together with the accompanying drawing, which, by way of illustration, shows prefered embodiments of the invention and the principles thereof in what I now consider to be the best modes contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and principles of the invention.

hi the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention, a drinking glass and base support th refor;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on any diametric section of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention, a drinking vessel and base support therefor; and

FIG. 4 is a diametric cross-section of the drinking vessel of FIG. 3 taken on section 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hollow vessel 10, in th case a drinking glass, has an unbroken, liquid-tight ically shaped side wall 11 and an unbroken, liqui ght bottom wall 12 of generally symmetrical configuration. The bottom wall 12 is shaped to provide a re-entrant projection 13 extending into the liquid receiving cavity 14 of the hollow vessel. The re-entrant projection 13 has a cavity 15 of substantially symmetrical configuration which tapers inwardly from the bottom wall 12 to form a generally frusto-conical-shaped recess or cavity. At the upper and smaller end of the frusto-conical-shaped cavity, the internal walls 16 of the cavity take a cylindrical configuration coaxial with the frusto-conical recess with the end wall 17 of the cavity being slightly conical. The center of the conical wall 17 constitutes the apex of the cavity 15. This apex is located above and is in substan- "ice tial alignment with the center of gravity G of the hollow vessel 10. It is important that this relationship be maintained if the drinking vessel is to be suspended by a means later described in substantially level or horizontal position. Where necessary, or desired, a weight such as a metal ring or the like may be attached to the bottom of the vessel 19 for the purpose of lowering the center of gravity thereon.

The hollow vessel 16 is pivotally supported on and spaced from the base 18 which has a cylindrical-shaped recess 19 in the upper side thereof. The base 12 of the hollow vessel 10 preferably, though not essentially, is located within the recess 19.

The base 18 has an upright supporting member or post 20 screw-threaded or otherwise fixedly mounted in the bottom wall 21 of the base 18. The post 2t? extends upwardly from the approximate radial center of the recess 19. It is tapered at 22 to a segment 23 of lesser diameter than segment 20. At the upper end of the segment 23 there is an enlarged head 24 which has a conical-shaped, sharply pointed pivot bearing head 25', the point of which supports the hollow vessel 119 with the apex of the cavity 15 resting thereon.

The spacing between the walls of the cavity 15 and the post 29 is sufficient to permit at least a limited amount of pivotal movement of the hollow vessel 19 with respect to the base 18. Similarly, there is a sufiicient clearance or spacing between the bottom wall 12 of hollow vessel 11) and the bottom 26 of the recess 19 to allow a limited amount of pivotal movement of the hollow vessel 19 with respect to the base 18. -t is this pivotal movement in any vertical plane, in combination with the position of the center of gravity G of the hollow vessel 10 with respect to the point of pivotal support of the vessel 10 on the post 219, that allows the vessel 19 to remain in a substantially level or horizontal position even though the base 13 may be tilted at an angle.

It is ordinarily desirable to limit the degree of tilting of the vessel It) with respect to the base 18 to not more than 3540. This function can be accomplished in one of several ways, one of which is to space the bottom wall 12 a proper distance from the bottom wall 26 of the cavity 19 so that the outer edge 27 of the bottom wall 12 contacts the bottom wall 26 of the recess 18 at the desired degree of maximum angular tilt. Another convenient way for accomplishing the same purpose is to space the cylindrical wall 16 of the recess 15 a distance from the segment 23 of the post 26 so that the bottom edge 23 of the cylindrical wall 16 contacts the segment 23 when the desired maximum angle of tilt is reached. A third way for accomplishing the same function is to provide a similar contact between the side wall 11 of the vessel 18 and the upper edge 29 of the recess 19 when the desired maximum angle of tilt is reached.

The recess 1? serves an additional function in that it collects any condensation which drips off the outer surface of the drinking vessel 1% and thus protects the furniture upon which the drinking unit is placed against water marking. If desired, the bottom of the base 169 may be covered with a disc 30 of felt, rubber or the like to serve as a soft base support or a nonsiipping cushion for the base The disc 3% need not be Waterproof or water-repellant inasmuch as it is not ordinarily necessary to submerge the base 1% because the hollow vessel 16 is freely removable from the base 18 and can be washed separately.

The bottom wall 12 has a ring-shaped segment 31 which is thicker than the other wall portions of the vessel it to provide greater weight in the vessel 13 and thus lower the center of gravity. In cletermim'ng the position of the center of gravity with respect to the apex of the cavity 15, the center of gravity of the hollow vessel 1t? when filled or substantially tilled with liquid must also suitable material, such as then plastics, g resins, molded fibers, metal or .ne lile.

It is conveni at and us able to the .n a trifle vessel at; substantially to the apex of the cavity l5. '9, however, may be nonsynmetric with respect tr as l as the center of ravity of the vessel in is and in substantial alignment with said apex. In such case, however, the liquid-receiving cavity 24 should be subs -tially symmetric with respect to said ap x to avoid unb. -ancing he vessel lid when it contains a id.

The principles of construction heretofore described apply eqt' ,lly to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 in which a drinking vessel 32-, having diametrically opposite handles 33 and is pivotally supported on pin 3-5 uprightly mounted in the base 36 v 1 is of similar construction to the base 13. In this embodi ent of th invention, the drinking vessel 32 has a cylindrical wall 3'7 which is rounded at its bottom has a re-entrant segment 3% centrally positioned in and extending upwardly into the liquid-receiving cavity of e drinking vessel 32. In this embodiment of the i the walls of the drinking vessel 32 are of substa uniform thickness throughout. The conical re-entrant cavity 41 in the bottom of the drinking vessel 32 termi nates in a slightly rounded .2. drinking vessel 32 is pivotally supported above the base from a point of the conically-shaped terminal end of the pin 35 in a manner similar to the support for the einbodi rent of FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the apex d2 of the vess is located above and substantially in alignment Vlltll the center of gravity G of the vessel The degree of angular tilt of the cup 32 to the base 36 preferably is 1i. ited as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 either by contact of the rounded segment 38 of the vesesl 32 v bo wall of the cavity or by contact of ylindi cal wall with the upper edge 45 of the surface of the base From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be apparent that the hollow vessels and pivotal supports therefor can be used advantageously many types of situations. For example, they may be used as drinking vesesls for small i dren to lessen the danger of accidentalspillage of uid contents of the vessel inasmuch as the base has a wider support t. an the vessel ups which it is supported, plus the fact that the drink vessel is tiltable and will recover its he ontal po automatically. The tapered cavity in the lower an of the vessel helps to guide the vessel to its proper support position on the upright support membe T he vessels of the invention are also useful where the drinking vessels are rested on uneven surfaces such as ilags one patios, sloping arms of furniture and other sirn ar situations. They are also advantageously used on shipboard to neutralize mild rolling or" the ship or boat. Also, it will be found that with respect cavity in the upper its 12' and the cup level will tend to remain parallel less of the acceleration or deceleration of vehicle. Also, the drinking vesselsor liquid containers tend to keep the uid level of the vessel self'leveling, or horizontal, at all times when the whole device is placed on a normally horizontal surface, and this surface (a tray, platform, table, etc.) is moved from place to place. This is true when the whole device is moved from one nonhorizontm surface to another and different nonhorisurface as, for example, from a sloping tray to a table or stand, etc.

is not to be inferred that these devices, as described above, are solely drinking'vessels. They can be used, for example, as containers for shipping or tr nsporting liquids or other materials that need delicate h .lling or for materils cannot withstand severe impacts or jarring. The novel mounting and support of the vessels at a point normally above the center of gravity or" the vessel and its contents tends to transfer any impacts, change of motion, acceleration, etc, to a rotational movement, and/or, an oscillation of the vessel and its contents about the pivot point to reduce or transform the impact or motion force into rotational and/or oscillatory movement about the pivot point.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, that the present invention provides new and improved drinking vessel uints having novel features, advantages and characteristics and accomplish; its intended objectives, including those hereinbeiore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

1 claim:

1. A hollow drinking vessel and pivot support therefor comprising a hollow drinking vessel having unbroken bottom and side walls forming a liquid-tight, liquid-receiving cavity, said bottom wall having a cavity extending upwardly with its apex above and substantially in alignment with the center of gravity of said vessel, said liquidrecei -ng cavity being symmetric with respect to said apex, a base, and a post mounted on said base and extending vardly therefrom, the upper end of said post being crpiy pointed, said vessel being pivotally suspended on and freely liftable oil said post, the apex of said cavity resting freely on the sharply pointed end of said post when said vessel is suspending thereon.

2. A hollow drinking vessel and a support therefor comprising a hollow drinking vessel having unbroken bottom and side walls forming a liquid-tight, liquid-receiving cavity, said bottom wall having a tapered central cavity extending upwardly with its apex above and substantially in alignment with the center of gravity of said vessel, a base having a cylindrical cavity in its upper side, a post mounted on said base in the radical center of and extending upwardly therefrom, the upper end of said post being sharply pointed, said vessel being suspended on said post lightly above said base with the apex of said tapered cavity resting on the sharply pointed end of said post, and the bottom wall of said vessel being spaced above the bottom wall of said cylindrical cavity in said base, when the drinking vessel is supported on said end in a level position, a distance such that one of its walls contacts said bottom wall of the cylindrical recess of said .base when the vessel is tilted at its maximum angle.

3. A hollow drinking vessel and support therefor comprising a hollow drinking vessel having unbroken bottom and side walls forming a liquid-tight, symmetrical liquidreceiving cavity, said bottom wall of said vessel having a frusto-conical re-entrant recess formed therein with the frusto-conical wall tapering upwardly and inwardly from the bottom or" said ve sel, said re-entrant recess also including a cylindrical wall recess communicating with said frusto-conical recess, said cylindrical wall being coaxial with said frusto-conical wall and the circular lower edge of said cylindrical wall forming a circular juncture with the upper and smaller end of said frusto-conical recess,

regard said cylindrical recess having an unbroken end Wall extending acress the upper end thereof, an upwardly and inwardly conically tapered lower surface in said end Wall, the apex of said comically tapered lower surface being above and substantially in alignment With the center of gravity of said vessel, a base, a vertical post having a sharply pointed upper tip mounted on said base, said pointed tip being seated in the apex of said conicall tapered lower surface to prcvide a pivotal support of said vessel on said post with the bottom of said vessel spaced above said base, and the spacing between said post and said cylindrical Wall being such that said cylindrical wall contacts said post, when said. vessel is tilted 0n said post and limits pivoting cf said vessel on said post to an angle not exceeding 40 from horizontal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,759,165 Mayer May 20, 1930 1,977,922 Serre Oct. 23, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,695 Great Britain 1900 164,136 Switzerland Dec. 1, 1933 

1. A HOLLOW DRINKING VESSEL AND PIVOT SUPPORT THEREFOR COMPRISING A HOLLOW DRINKING VESSEL HAVING UNBROKEN BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS FORMING A LIQUID-TIGHT, LIQUID-RECEIVING CAVITY, SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING A CAVITY EXTENDING UPWARDLY WITH ITS APEX ABOVE AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SAID VESSEL, SAID LIQUIDRECEIVING CAVITY BEING SYMMETRIC WITH RESPECT TO SAID APEX, A BASE, AND A POST MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, THE UPPER END OF SAID POST BEING SHARPLY POINTED, SAID VESSEL BEING PIVOTALLY SUSPENDED ON AND FREELY LIFTABLE OFF SAID POST, THE APEX OF SAID CAVITY RESTING FREELY ON THE SHARPLY POINTED END OF SAID POST WHEN SAID VESSEL IS SUSPENDING THEREON. 